By Sheena Dooley | Iowa Watchdog

6/11/2013

DES MOINES – When it comes to U.S. Senators with agendas that cost taxpayers the most, look no further than Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin.

Harkin ranked second when it came to the 10 largest spending agendas among senators in the 112th Congress. His proposals during 2011-12 reaching nearly $271.5 billion, according to a newly released report by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, a non-profit that tracks the costs of lawmaker proposals.

Sen. Tom Harkin’s proposals among the costliest in the U.S. Senate.

Unlike the president, members of Congress do not have to submit budget proposals. The foundation offers a glimpse into what they would look like if congressional delegates had to make budget plans.

The only senator to propose initiatives that cost more than Harkin’s was Vermont’s Bernard Sanders, an Independent whose plans cost more than $1 trillion, according to the foundation. Behind Harkin, was Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat from New Jersey, who passed away. His proposed measures cost $190 million.

The most costly bill sponsored by Harkin was the Rebuild America Act, which was introduced in March 2012. It provided funds to improve schools and energy systems, give teachers professional develop, increase the minimum wage and expand childhood care and education. It also proposed changes to the tax code and gave the needed funding to rebuild the U.S. infrastructure and expand renewable energy projects.

While Harkin may have asked for fat stacks of taxpayer cash, Senate Democrats, on average, asked for less in the past Congress. “Senate Democrats proposed an average net agenda of $39 billion each – down by $157 billion from the previous Congress,” noted Florida Watchdog’s Will Patrick.

Senate Republicans, too, focused more on savings than spending in the previous Congress. “Senate Republicans shifted to a $273 billion average savings agenda from a $25 billion spending agenda during the previous Congress,” Patrick explained.